Betawatch: The Repopulation changes hands (January 20, 2017)

The good news for fans of The Repopulation is that the game is coming back online. The bad news is… well, it’s completely changed hands, with Idea Fabrik (owners of the Hero Engine) taking the game and making it their own. Will it be as good as it could have been? Will it release and be stable? We just don’t know right now. But it’s coming back. The owners are also starting just by bringing the alpha back online, lest you expect a whole new game out of the gate.

You’ll be able to test MU Legend again on February 21st through February 28th, with a focus on improved localization. There will also be no data wiped from the first closed beta, so you can just jump in where you left off.

And yes, there’s a list, and it’s just below. Did we miss something in there? Let us know down in the comments. Do you want to share your opinions on this week’s beta news? Do so in the comments. Sharing feelings about betas? That’s what the comment section is for, folks, don’t let us stop you.

As always, we consider an MMO to be in open testing if it features free, public signups and will server wipe prior to launch. An MMO is marked in closed testing if it’s running a private test phase that cannot freely be accessed by the general public; it’s usually under NDA as well. Early access and crowdfunded MMOs whose tests we deem legitimate will be included. So-called “open beta” soft-launch MMOs with cash shops, no sign of launch in the west, or limited interest for our readers will not be listed; we also do not list expansions, with occasional exceptions.

Yes, MMO gamers, you too can perform the unpaid quality-control work otherwise known as game testing! Check out Massively Overpowered’s Betawatch every week for a run-down of MMOs that are still on the road to reality.

MASSIVELY OVERHEARD

“We had a lot of marketing people saying, don’t call it an MMO. Everyone will think it’s orcs and wizards running around. It’s stale [the MMO genre]. My point is, that’s exactly why we have to own it as an MMO. It is. It’s inspired by EVE Online and Space Station 13. I’m hoping that we can show there are so many areas you can innovate in terms of MMOs.”